I'm really excited about the future of the new GTE, I feel like a new GT1 era is starting. I know that some brands want the convergence GT between GTE and GT3, but I like the idea that GTE is for more extreme models, as happened with GT1 and GT2 in the past.
Ford started this era this year with a mid-engine prototype and despite the existence of the BOP it is always better to have a proper car, Ferrari already has its mid-engine car, Porsche recreates in 2017 a 911 mid-engine reminiscent of the 911 GT1. I am hoping that the BMW M8 will be a mid-engine supercar, the Lamborguini Will be a mid-engine too of course and the unknowns are Corvette and Aston Martin. Maybe GM will decide to make the Corvette mid-engine and this is the race car and hopefully it is true that the Vulcan will be the basis of the Aston racer.
Of course the great variety of engines is a dream, Boxer6, V6, V8, V10, V12, turbos and NA.

But, didn't GT1 fail because the cost got out of hand and people vacated?* GTE and GT3 are meant to rein that in, but... I don't like that cars are lumped together to be on one tier, when it seems there should be two tiers (based on capacity or performance or similar).

*I do know that is the story of sports car racing...

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Actually, cars like C6R, DBR9 or nissan gt-r GT1 were everything but supercars in their road versions, or at least not in the same high performance range of MC12, murcielago, ford gt and saleen S7. At the end, nevermind GT1 is just two letters followed by a number... nowadays GT situation is quite different. 2016 GTLM only for work teams or however factory backed teams; a lot of 458 GT2 and some 911, vantage, corvette for a few private teams; GT3 for everyone.
Ten years ago, even small private teams like luc alphand or PKA/phoenix were able to be with 2 GT1 in grid

GTE = GT1. It just changed names. The cars are nearly as fast as the last iteration of GT1 now too.

If you mean 2010-2011 GT1 (about 1200-1250kg and <600hp)
GTE cars revealed to be faster already in 2014; but GTLM are still far from 2006-2008 monster GT1 performances (abouot 1100-1150kg and 600-625hp)

Last iteration yes, but not the real GT1 (2000 to 2009). Even the GT3 is faster than the GTE in 2016

Spa Francorchamps :

GT1 : 213923
GT3 : 215746
GTE : 217644

Quote:

Originally Posted by canaglia

If you mean 2010-2011 GT1 (about 1200-1250kg and <600hp)
GTE cars revealed to be faster already in 2014; but GTLM are still far from 2006-2008 monster GT1 performances (abouot 1100-1150kg and 600-625hp)

I'm talking about the last generation GTS/GT1 ACO formula. 1.5 seconds at Road Atlanta between the last GT1 and current GTLM cars is what I define as "nearly". Imperceptible at the race track.

None of this has anything to do with my point... We have a top GT class and it is GTE.

Yeah if those gt1's ran today's tires, they'd be more than a second or two faster than gte is now. The mid 2000's gt1's were capable of sub 3:50's at Le Mans. That shows how much these gte's are giving up. They're not any slower through the corners, but they're heavier and less powerful.

Coletta warned of a rising trend in the GTE ranks of manufacturers entering cars designed first and foremost for racing, rather than converting an established road car into a race-eligible machine.

He said championship organisers should impose "very strict rules" that are "equal for everyone".

The Italian’s remarks are clearly aimed at the Ford GT, which was allowed into the championship this season despite production having yet to commence on the American supercar, while Porsche is re-entering the class as a works team in 2017 with a mid-engined 911 RSR not directly derived from a road car.

“We have read the rules, we have interpreted,” said Coletta. “Using the base of our 488 road car we started our work, making it competitive for racing.

“Others have made prototypes, and today we are still waiting to see the minimum number of road cars being produced. Others have said they have made a car you will never see on the road.

“Something is not working. It’s time to sit around the table and establish a set of very strict rules. It’s good to have new manufacturers, but the rules must be equal for everyone.

"It is clear we cannot remain passive when others arrive with cars that are distorted or are very different to how they should be.”